US2604099A - Method of and means for the production of filter-tip cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

y 1952 H. VIPOLICANSKYV 2,604,099

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES Filed Sept. 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 22, 1952 H. POLICANSKY METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTIONVOF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11', 1946 July 22, .1952 H. POLICANSKY METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES Filed Sept. 11,1946

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 {LII July 22, 1952 H. POLICANSKY METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES "5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 July 22, 1952 H. POLICANSKY METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES .5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 11,

m Em MM\ Patented July 22, 1952 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE PRODUC- TION OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES Hyman l 'olicansky, Cape Town, Union of South Africa, assignor to Industrial Machinery Company Limited, London, England Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,206 1 In Great Britain October 22, .1945 H 1' Thisdnvention relates to a method or" and means for the, production of filter tip cigarettes and ,is concerned with improvements in or relating to apparatus for the high speed production of filter tip cigarettes on a cigarettemaking machine of the type known as a continuous rod .machine, wherein before-being wrapped and cut into individual cigarettes a continuous unwrapped tobacco rod or rope is transformed into a continuous rod comprising alternate abutting lengths of filter plugs, mouthpieces or other like objects, and lengths of tobacco rodxor rope. 'For the pur pose of thisspecification the words filter plugs shall be taken to mean lfilterplugs, mouthpieces, orthelike. I I,

According to the present invention a method of transforming. acontinuoustobacco .rope moving along a ,rectilinear path of travel into a continuous rod comprising alternate abutting lengths of tobaccorop e and filter plugs consistsindiverting the rectilineal path of v travel of the tobacco rope-tocause the latter to move along and through anarcuatelpath of travel .towhich the saidrectilinear path is tangential or substantially so, severingthe tobacco rod or rope at or beyond the point of. contactjpetween the tangent and the-arc, posi tively moving the severedportion away from the main tobacco rope body at a speed greaterthan the ,speed of travel of said tobacco rope inand along.-.the. curvilinear axial direction of the arcu;

ate path, to create a gap and introducing filter plugs-into each gap so'formed. I The invention further consists in guiding and feeding the separated lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs into, and along an-arcuate path forming aycontinuance ofthe a-r-cuate path but qfrpepqs h l duri w h t i c o. e

' vwas..severedand zcausingthe' filter plugs and 20 Claims. (01. 131c1) 2 rating the lengths from the main body of tobacco rope in order to enable and effect successive de livery of the severed separated lengths, said means comprising a single Wheel provided with cutting knives or a knife, movable with the wheel and about the axis of rotation thereof, the. said wheel being adapted to rotate continuously and with a uniform peripheral speed greater than that of the forward moving tobacco rope fed thereto, and so disposed in relation to, the path of travel of the tobacco rope that the path crime of travel of the tobacco rope forms a tangent or'subs'tantially a tangent; to the said wheel. V a For vthe purpose of this specification the said wheel shallzhereina'fter be referred to as a sece tion wheel. I

Further according to the invention, means are provided for receiving the successively delivered separated lengths; of tobacco rope and filter plugs and longitudinally abutting the said filterplugs and tobacco rope, said means comprising-essentially a single wheel operating in conjunction with an arcuate chute, the said Wheel being provided with retractable conveyor-pins for transferring the lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs throughthe arcuate chute on to a moving Web of paper, or endless band, and causingthem to abut lengths of tobacco rope to abut'against each other I longitudinally in their direction of motion,- either during their; motion through the arcuate path or durin their motion through a portion of the arcuate path or during their motion through; a portion of the arcuate-path and a port-ionof a reci i e m th e n ma an ro ero removed from the junction; of the arcuate and rectilinealipath by a'distance notgreater than the-combined length of a filterplug anda'length of tobacco rope. 1 ,l rMechanism according to the invention comprises means for transforming a continuous unwrapped tobacco rod 011 rope intoa continuous rod consisting of alternate; abutting: lengths .of tobaccorropeandsiter pluga means for severing I lengthsof unwrapped tobacco rope and'forasepalongitudinally to form a'continuous composite rod of alternate lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs. I a 3 I For the: purpose of this specification the said wheelshall hereinafter be referred'to as arran fer wheeL; V i

A section: wheel. performs the functionsf'of severing tobacco rope and separating-the severed lengths froma main forward moving bod'yl o'f tobacco rope, enabling and eiiecting the successive delivery of the separated lengths, and is, for these purposes constructed with a suitable smooth peripheral groove offcross-sectional dimensions large: enough to accorrunoda'tevthe tobacco. ,rope freely andcompletely within ,the said groove, and

isprovided with one or :more knives, each, knife v operatin inga narrow slot constructed trans? versely across the peripheral grooVe;=-;By virtue of the, dimensions of theperipheral grooveof the c section wheel and the'smooth surfacesthereof, the -speed .of the tobacco-rope within the groove is independent of the peripheralspeed of thesec;

tion wheel before a, len th is severed fromzl he said tcbaceoflrope; Operating-in; conjunction with? Section Wheel t cco,ropecutting; knife I maintenance of the greater speed of the severed 7 length of tobacco rope in that a knife, after com pletion of a cutting stroke, remains substantially in its'forward position, for any desired arc'of travel, thus forming an abutment across the peripheral groove of the section wheel, which abutment positively drives the severed length of tobacco with the section wheel.

Separation of a severed length from the main body of tobacco rope takes place within the peripheral groove of the section wheel and is achieved by arranging the section wheel to r0 tate with a peripheral speed greater, in predetermined ratio, than the forward speed of the tobacco rope before it is severed by a knife. It is evident from the foregoing that each severed length of tobacco is accelerated in its motion and moved apart from the main tobacco. rope body inasmuch as before being severed from the main tobacco rope body it constituted part of the said body and consequently moved with the speed thereof whereas after severance therefrom it acquires the, speed of the peripheral groove of the section wheel which, as stated, is greater than that of the tobacco rope. It will be understood that for any desired purpose the distance -'of proximately the position where the retractable conveyor pins cause abutment to occur between a filter plug and a length of tobacco rope and the next filter plug and length of tobacco rope the conveyor pins are retracted. 7

According to an alternative mode ofgoperating the invention abutment between a filter plug and a length of tobacco rope and the next filter plug and length of tobacco rope is completed within the. arcuate chute,, and the transfer wheel is so disposed in relation to the moving web of paper that the lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs are pressed thereonto by the transfer wheel, thereby forcibly constraining the lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs (which now comprise part ofa continuous composite rod) to acquire the speed of the moving web of paper and by which means hesitation of the composite rod during its passage under the usual tongue of a continuous rod machine is prevented. It will be understood that, inthe above alternative mode of operation of the invention, the peripheral surface of the transfer wheel is necessarily smooth to allow sliding pressure between the composite tion Wheel, are urged in the performance of their 7 cutting strokes by springs. 'By this means; in

movement of a severed length apart from the main tobacco-rope body will be a function of the relative speeds of the said main tobacco rope body and the peripheral groove of a section wheel and the distance between the point of severance of the length from the main tobacco rope body and 5 the point of delivery from the section wheel of the said severed length. In the transformation of a continuous tobacco rod or rope into a continuous composite rod comprising alternate abutting lengths of tobaccorope and filter plugs, and according to one form of this invention, a transfer wheel operating in conjunction with-an arcuate chute'perfornis the functions of receiving separated lengths of to} bacco rope and filter plugs, transferring them in alternate succession through the arcuate chute onto a moving web of paper (or endless band) and forming a continuous rod'by abuttlngthem' longitudinally against each other and is forthese purposes provided with one or more sets of rectilinearly retractable conveyor pins 'and is adapted to rotate with a peripheral speed greater than that of the moving webof paper (or endless band) upon which the-lengths of tobacco rope and filter plugs are deposited. The retractable conveyor pins engage filter plugs at a suitable positionon the periphery of the transfer wheel and convey the said plugs'unt'o engagement with end of the filter plug which it pursues.'- At apby reason of the generally present dust-inacigarette making machine and with aview to en- 'suring' sustained mechanical efficiency of the" means of this invention it is a featurethereof that the major portion of the knife operating mechanismof a section wheel is enclosed in anoil bath, and that the operating mechanismof" the retractable conveyor pins of a transfer'wheel is containedin a dustproof housing within the said'wheel. I *-One form of the invention and-two niodes of operation thereof will "now be more particularly described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic "elevation of the invention with parts broken away for clearance and showing the mode of operation'thereof.

Fig. 1A is a similar view-toFigx'l showing an alternative mode of operation of the invention;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the section wheel seen in Figs. 1 and '1A;sho'wing the knife operating mechanism of a section'wheel. Fig. 3'is an end elevationof' Fig 2 seen inthe direction of the arrows;'A, A in-Fig. 2'. r 4 Fig. i is-a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken through 'the'broken line B, Bthereori; 4

5 with the crating in slots '3 (Fig; 3) transversely located across'the section =wheel"peripheral groove 5 '(Fi rZM The knife. clamps 2 are mounted on the ends of knife plungers 6 which protrude from bearings 1 in the casing 8 in which are mounted rocker arms 9. The rocker arms are connected to. the knife-plunger's B by means of the links In. The knives are urged outwardly by springs H and are withdrawn by cup cam l2 acting through the cam follower rollers'mounted on the rocker arms 9. The cup cam 12 is pinned-to the shaft l3= which is fixedly clamped-in a bracket stand 14. Although not shown in the drawings the shaft may be -extended and supportedtnear-the section wheel. i 'Ihe cover plate .16 is spigoted and screwed to thercasing 8 and carries gearwheel 15 by means of which the casing and with it :the knife operating mechanism and the section wheel isfcausedto revolve about :the stationary shaft 13. An oil retaining coverplate H and washer-is screwed to the casingand felt oil retaining washers (not shown) may be provided, where shafts protrude from the casing, thus sealing the casing against the escape of oil and the entry of dust. The casing ispartiallyfilled with oil (not shown in the drawings) and constitutes an oil bath for lubricating the knife operating mechanism.

With. further reference to :the drawings, Figs Sand 6 "show two views of the transfer :wheel seen. in Fig. 1. The transfer. wheel I9 is providedwith two sets of radially retractable conveyor .pins 20, a,-one set shown in its retractedorinoperative positionand the other in its protruded oroperativezposition. The: pins .20, 22011 are machined tofit snugly in holes in the.- casing in;order to prevent entry of .dustto the. inside of the casing as well as to .preventescape past them of lubricants fromth'e inside of the casing, and in order to facilitate theirconstruction with this end in view are-constructed to retract; and protrude, with radial. movement. In addition feltpads or Washersmot shown) may beep r0:

vided. at a point in the; casing where there tractable pins enter the rim thereof. r

The pins 20, 20a, are mounted in slide blocks 2|, which"- are restrained by slide block guides 22. The slide blocks are actuated by cam 23 and cam follower rollers and by'springs 25 Thecam 23. has an elongated boss which maybe hushed .to 'provide a bearing for drive shaft 26 to" which the transfer wheel is pinned at 21 through the transfer wheel boss 28. The cam 23isnon-rotatably clamped in a bracket stand 29 and the transfer wheel revolves about the stationary cam. A cover plate 30 completes the seal against escape of lubricant and entry of dust.

Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to Fig. 1 which illustrates theapplicationjof the invention tobacco issuing'from'the ho'pper o'f a continuous rod cigarette making machine .and havingjbeen" compressed into. rod or rope formby any suitable compression device isjgu ide d to and across a. bridge}! to enter the .peripheral groove 5 of the section wheel .4. 'I'lfe"'t'obacco rope 32 is 'jrestra'ined within the peripheral 'groov'eby means of a circumferential gu'aid "33. 1' The said peripheral .groove; is suflii'cintly' large to accommodate the. tobacco rope freely. yet not/large enough to .-allow the rope to {bend or buckle The-purpose of the fore:- going is to allow free entry to andfree exit. from t e. 519W? 0 villeab s rape. as.-.-w 11.- as. to

6 allow-the'surfa'ces of thegroove incontact .with the tobacco rope to slide'pa-stx-the ropeiwithont undue'friction. The "section wheel 4 is arranged to-revolve with a peripheral speed greater than the'speed of the tobaccd-rope=32 and consequent 1y slides past the portion of the continuous tobacco rope engaged in the peripheral groove. Cutting knives I operating in transverse slots 3 in the section wheel 4 cut through the'tobacco rope at anapproximate position P. "On the completion of each cutting stroke and for a certain arc oftravel each cutting knife remains substantially in its forward position thereby forming an abutment across the-peripheral groove and thusensuring positive carrying forward of theseveredsegment oftobacco rope.

Again withreference to Fig. 1, the section wheel 4 is shown with' a cutting knife I havingsevered a segment 34a from. the continuous tobaccorod :32 at an approximate position P and having re- 'volved approximately aiquarter of a revolution from' position P in the direction of the curved arrow. A gap. 35 has been developed, between the segment 34a and the end of the rope 32' by reason of the difference between the speedwof the knife-abutment I and the speed of tobacco rope 32. At an: approximate zpositionaw the knife .I is completely withdrawn from the pe ripheral groove to allow of its free passage past the tongue .31a of the arcuate chute 3'! and to allow .a filter plug 36a carried forward by. oncoming retractable conveyorupins 20a. on the transfer.- wheel .19 to enter the gap 35, enlarged at this position, between the severed segment 34a and the rope .32 and toabut :against the said severed. segment. Rotation of .the transfer wheel l9'i's inxthe direction.ofsthexcurved arrow and causes by means of the conveyorpins the filter plug 36a and. tobacco segment 34a to be moved through and alongthe arcuate chute 31 and at the positionv Mr is -deposited' on the band 40 whichcarries a paper webfifl in the direction ofv the straight arrow, The. conveyor pins 20 Ha are, retracted on reaching position M to prevent damage, to the ends of: the filter plugs or the lifting of the said plugs from the cigarette paper and to .allow ofthe ;free passage of the said pin's'pa's't'the cover "guard 41. r a

7 By reason of the predetermined. suitable. dif- I ferenee ,in speed betweenfthe periphery of the transferfwheel l 9 and'the paper web 39, it will be understood that the gap 38 betweeh a' filter plug and the end of the following tobacco rodseg- I ment diminishes with the emergence of more of the tobacco rod segment from theaperture -formed between ,the transfer wheel and the arcuatechute. I r

Atransfer wheel Hloperating in conjunction with a sectionwheel 4 is timed to deposit a tobaccosegment and an abutting filter plug on amovingpaper web or endless. band whengzthe said paper web has moved through .aqdistance equal to a length which is the sum of theglengths qf-a v filter plug-and a segment of tobacco rope.

In this manner complete abutment .offilter plugs 36"and: the severed segments-134,34a of a. continuous atobacco rod. or rope i32 isxefieoted to reformxa continuous compositerod.-42;..aA:

According to the above mode of operating the invention... and when the composite, rod is first deposited by thetransfer wheel; on to anrendless band and subsequently transferred o'n to a movring1paper web,..it is found advantageous to. cause portion ofthe band which is tubularzbeing disf posed "close to the transfer wheeL; The advane tages of this lie in the elimination. of jdisturbance of the rodby stationary guides before it-is firmly held by the endless bandand the easeof firmly holding the rod withinthe band by simplyconstricting the size of the tubular form at..'a suitable position. r .1 j.

According to the hereinbefore described-alternative mode of operation ofthe invention and with particular reference to Fig. 1A ofwthe. drawin'gs, the mode of operation resembles that described above with particular reference to: Fig. 1 but differs therefrom in that the retractable pins 20 are retracted at a new position M which,

measured along the arc, is approximately distant from'the bottom of the vertical diameter of the transfer wheel [9 by a length equal tothecombined lengths of afilter plug. and a length of tobacco rope. Furthermore the transfer: wheel 19 is positioned somewhat lower than in Fig. 1

topress the lengths of tobacco rope and the filter plugs onto the moving paper web 39. After the'pins 20 are retracted the filter plug 36b follows the length of tobacco rope and is assisted therein by the peripheral surface of the transfer wheel and/or by. gravity. The composite rod having now been formed passes under a short suitable guide 4| and, is wrapped and cut into individual cigarettes in known manner.

In one specific application of the invention, the transfer wheel retractable pins are placed at distances on the periphery equal to or very nearly equal to the sum of the length of-a filter plug and a length'of severed segmentof tobacco rope and-the peripheral speed ofthe transfer wheel pitch circle maintained at the samespeed as the moving paper web or endless band which carries away the composite rod. It has beenlfound in practice that as a result of this arrangement variation in the depositing 0f a length of tobacco rope and filter plugon the moving paper web is eliminated'due to the fact-that the retractable pins are withdrawnonly after each filter plug is gripped between the transfer wheel'and themovingband; -"f What I- claim andfdesire tos'ecure 'by'Letters Patent is: s j ff 1. In a method of forming a continuous composite rod of abutting alternate tobacco lengths and'filter plugs, the steps of transforming a con tinuous tobaccorope into a plurality of spaced tobacco lengths which comprises feeding a tobacco rope at a predetermined speed'to a carrier moving in an arcuate path at' a greater speed that the speed at which the tobacco ropeis fed thereto, severing the tobacco rope when traveling in an arcuate path on said carrier to provide a tobacco length, positively moving the severed tobacco length along said carrier until a gap'of sufilcient length is formed between the trailing end of the tobacco length and the leading end of the tobacco rope to accommodate a filter plug and repeating thesevering-ope'rations on' the tobacco rope.

tinuous tobacco rope into a: plurality oftobacco lengths which comprises feeding a tobaccor'ope at a predetermined speed in arectilinear 'path tothe periphery of an arcuate carrier moving at a greater :speed .than the speed at whichrthe tobacco rope is fed thereto, severing the tobacco rope when traveling in an arcuatepathgon :said carrier to provide atobacco length, moving the severed length with the carrier to create ,a gap of suflicient length to accommodate a filter plug between the trailing end of thetobacco length and the leading end :of the tobacco rope and repeating the severing operations ,on the tobacco rope eachtime a gap is formed toaccommodate 'pl V '1 v f. f??- 4. In the method of forming a continuous-com: posite rod of abutting alternate tobacco lengths and filter plugs, thesteps which, comprise feeding a tobacco rope at a predetermined speedcin arectilinear path'to theperipheryof an arcuate carrier moving ata greater speed than the speed at which the tobacco rope'is fed thereto, severe ing the tobacco rope whentravelingin'an arcuate path on said carrier to provide atobaccorlengtlr, moving, the severed length with the carrier-to create, a gap of sufficient length to accommodate a filter plug between the trailing end. of the tobacco length and the leading end of the tobacco rope, repeating the severing operations on .the tobacco rope each time agap is formedto accome modate a plug and introducing a filter plug into each gap so formed. 2;; 5. A method according'to claim 4; wher-ein'the length of the gap formed between thetrailingend of a tobacco length and the leading edge .of .the tobacco rope is longer than the lengthofxa filter plug and causing said tobacco lengths. and'filter plugs to abut against each other longitudinally in the direction of theirmotion by thetransfer thereof-to a paper web moving at a speed less than that of the tobacco lengths and filter plugs. 6., A method according to claim 4 wherein the separated tobacco lengths andfilter plugs are caused to move in an arcuate path substantially tangential'to and for-minga continuation-'ofthe periphery-of the arcuate carrier but of opposite hand to that along whichthe tobacco lengths are formed and in which arcuate path the tobacco lengths and filter plugs are causedto abutagainst each other longitudinallj 'in their direction r motion, Q y j :1111 thefmethod of F forming a continuous composite rod of-abutting alternate tobacco lengths and'filter plugs; the stepswhich cam prise feeding tobacco lengths in longitudinally spaced relation to' a' rotating carrier to"'cause said tobacco lengths'to travel in an arcuate'path, feeding filter plugs to said rotating carrier so that each filter plug will be positioned in a space between two tobacco lengths and causing said tobacco'lengths and said filter plugs during the course of their travel in the arcuate path to'abii't longitudinallyjagainsteach other. 8. In the rnethod of forming fa continuous composite s f. abutting. auernate' toba'cc lengths and j filter plugs; the steps which coin; prise 'feeding{tobacco lengths in .longitu nailv spaced "relationj'to "a; rotating I carrier to cause said; tobacco flen gths to'travel in anjarciiat path,feedingfilter'plugs tosai'd rotating ca so 'ithat each-filter plug will be 'positioned a space betweentwo "tobacco lengths andfbausin'g said tobacco'lengths'jand said filter plugs as? but longitudinally -againsteach' other, in the 1 tion of their motion'by the transfer thereof to 'a' paper web moving at a speed less than that fol the tdbacco lengths and filter plugs; 9.-' Inthe' mthod 'of fo'rmin g a continuous composite rod of abutting alternate tobacco lengths and filter plugs, the steps which comprise feeding tobacco lengths in longitudinally spaced relation to a rotating carrier to cause said tobacco lengths to travel in an arcuate path, feeding filter plugs to said rotating carrier so that each filter plug will be positioned in a space between two tobacco lengths causing said tobacco lengths and said filter plugs during the course of their travel in the arcuate path to abut longitudinally against each other and compressing the tobacco lengths and filter plugs radial to their axes at the terminus of said arcuate path and a rectilinear path which is tangent to the arcuate path.

10. In a machine for making filter-tip cigarettes each having a tobacco length and a filter plug, means for transforming a tobacco rope into a plurality of spaced tobacco lengths, comprising a rotatable member, means for feeding a tobacco rope along a predetermined path of feed at a uniform speed to the rotatable member, said rotatable member being driven to rotate at a uniform speed greater than that of the forward moving tobacco rope fed thereto, cutting means movable with the rotatable member about the axis of rotation thereof adapted to sever a tobacco length from said fed tobacco rope while on said rotatable member and positively move said severed tobacco length along the rotatable Q member to provide a gap between the trailing end of the tobacco length and the leading end of the tobacco. rope, said gap being of a length greater than a filter plug of the cigarette.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the path of feed of th tobacco rope is substantially tangential to the rotatable member.

12. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the path of feed of the tobacco rope is substantially tangential to the rotatable member and the cutting means operate to sever a tobacco length from the tobacco rope beyond the point of tangency of the tobacco rope with the rotatable member.

13. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the rotatable member has an annular groove for receiving the tobacco rope.

14. A machine according to claim 13 including a filter plug conveyor for delivering a filter plug into the groove in the rotatable member within each gap formed between adjacent tobacco lengths.

15. A machine according to claim 13 including a filter plug conveyor traveling along a path tangential with said groove to introduce'a filter plug into the groove in the rotatable member within each gap formed between adjacent tobacco lengths.

16. In a machine for making filter-tip cigarettes each having a tobacco length and a filter plug, a rotatable carrier, a rotary conveyor for feeding tobacco lengths individually in spaced end to end relation to the carrier, whereby filter plugs may be fed to the carrier so that each filter plug will be positioned between the adjacent ends of two tobacco lengths and means for moving the tobacco lengths and filter plugs with the carrier during rotation thereof.

17. A machine according to claim 16 wherein I an arcuate shield is mounted over a peripheral portion of the carrier to provide a guide chute for the tobacco lengths and filter plugs during their movement by the carrier and. the means for moving the tobacco lengths and filter plugs through the guide chute during rotation of the carrier are retractably mounted in the rotatable carrier.

18. A machine according to claim 17 wherein a rectilinear traveling web is disposed in substantially tangential relation to the bottom of the guide chute and movable at a speed slower than the peripheral speed of the rotatable carrier and upon which web the alternate tobacco lengths and filter plugs are adapted to be brought into juxtaposition by said difference in speed and carried away from the rotatable carrier.

19. In a machine for making filter tipcigarettes each having a tobacco length and a filter plug, a rotatable member, a carrier, means for feeding a tobacco rope to the carrier, means for severing the tobacco rope and for separating the tobacco length thus formed by lengthwise movement in order to effect successive delivery of the separated tobacco length from the carrier to said rotatable member, said carrier having a smooth peripheral groove and being driven to rotate continuously with a uniform peripheral speed greater than that of the tobacco rope fed thereto, said severing means comprising a retractable cutting means moving with the carrier about the axis of rotation thereof and an arcuate guard covering a part of the periphery of said carrier.

20. In a machine for making filter-tip ciga-' rettes each having a tobacco length and a filter plug, a rotatable member, means for feeding a tobacco rope at a uniform speed to the rotatable member, said rotatable member being adapted to rotate at a uniform speed greater than that of the forward moving tobacco rope fed thereto, means movable with the rotatable member about the axis of rotation thereof adapted to sever a tobacco length from said fedtobacco rope and positively move said severed tobacco length along with the member to provide a gap between the trailing end of the tobacco length and the leading end of the tobacco rope, said gap being of a length greater than a filter plug, a rotatable carrier the peripheral surface of which is substantially tangential to the peripheral surface of the rotatable member, the rotatable carrier being adapted to receive the spaced tobacco lengths from the rotatable member, whereby filter plugs may be fed to the carrier near the point of tangency between said carrier and the rotatable member so that each filter plug will be positioned in a gap between the adjacent ends of two tobacco lengths and means for moving the tobacco lengths and filter plugs during rotation of the carrier and bringing the adjacent end of said lengths and plugs into abutting relation to provide a continuous composite rod of alternate tobacco lengths and filter plugs.

HYMAN POLICANSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,013,202 Davidson Sept. 3, 1935 2,066,460 Edwards Jan. 5, 1937 2,172,804 Molins Sept. 12, 1939 2,236,579 Rundell Apr. 1, 1941 2,335,747 Edwards Nov. 30, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20052/34 Australia Feb. 7, 1936

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